UFC 148's Patrick Cote wins second UFC shot thanks to Twitter fans

LAS VEGAS — French-Canadian middleweight Patrick Cote always knew he’d be back in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He just didn’t know he’d be using social media to get there.

“I did my part to get back in the UFC with the winning streak, but I received so much support from the fans on Twitter,” Cote says. “They were pushing the UFC and (UFC President) Dana White to bring me back. I love Twitter.”

Cote, who first fought for the UFC in 2004, was released from the world’s largest MMA promotion in October 2010 following three straight losses. The move forced “The Predator” to reevaluate his skill set, and he sought out new ways to better his game.

“I had a weakness with my wrestling, so for the last year and a half, I wrestled four times a week with the Canadian national team,” Cote says. “I upgraded my wrestling a lot.”

The work paid dividends, and Cote racked up four consecutive wins on the regional scene. However, as he waited for his phone to ring for what he thought would be a spot on July’s UFC 149 card in his native country, he grew discontented.

“I was like, ‘OK, if they’re going to Canada, they’re going to need a Canadian fighter,'” Cote says. “I was looking at the card, and day after day there were more fight bookings. At the end, I wasn’t there, so I was like, ‘Man, what’s going on?'”

That’s when the social media campaign began. While Cote boasts just a fraction of the followers of White — the fighter has about 15,000 to the UFC boss’ 2.1 million — his supporters were vocal, and they badgered White to give him another shot in UFC.

“I always have guys lobbying me for some reason on Twitter,” says White, who has encouraged UFC fighters to use sites such as Twitter and Facebook to market themselves. “It’s great. It’s what social media is for.”

As it turned out, Cote’s reward was better than he had imagined. Cote (17-7 MMA, 4-7 UFC) simply wanted a preliminary-card slot at UFC 149.

Instead, he was given a pay-per-view main-card fight against with former Strikeforce champ Cung Le (7-2 MMA, 0-1 UFC) on the biggest fight card of the year: Saturday’s UFC 148 event at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

It’s a stern challenge for Cote, but he says he’s ready to prove he’s back where he belongs.

“I’ve always been very prepared physically, but this is the first time I’m like that mentally,” Cote says. “I’m so cool and relaxed now. I’m not stressed even a little for the fight.”

While Cote can claim the credit for a four-fight winning streak, it’s the loyal Twitter enthusiasts he firmly believes earned him another UFC fight.

“Getting me back in the UFC was insane,” Cote says. “Thanks to everybody who still believed in me and supported me. It was amazing. Now I have to … bring a show for the fans.”

As the UFC 189 tour made its last stop in Dublin, featherweight champ Jose Aldo was met with a torrent of abuse from the Irish fans. It might have been unpleasant, but it might also have been just what he needed.